Balloon Definition and 483 Threads

A balloon is a flexible bag that can be inflated with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, and air. For special tasks, balloons can be filled with smoke, liquid water, granular media (e.g. sand, flour or rice), or light sources. Modern day balloons are made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, and can come in many different colors. Some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig bladder. Some balloons are used for decorative purposes or entertaining purposes, while others are used for practical purposes such as meteorology, medical treatment, military defense, or transportation. A balloon's properties, including its low density and low cost, have led to a wide range of applications.
The rubber balloon was invented by Michael Faraday in 1824, during experiments with various gases. He invented them for use in the lab.

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  1. P

    Calculating Balloon Volume Change with Altitude

    A helium balloon has volume V0 and temperature T0 at sea level where the pressure is P0 and the air density is p. The balloon is allowed to float up in air to altitude y where the temperature is T1. a) Show that the colume occupised by the balloon is then V = V0(T1/T0)e^(+cy) where c =...
  2. D

    Explosive Physics Experiments: Dry Ice and Water Balloon

    Not long ago I read an article here in PF about explosion of dry ice in a bottle and I just accidentally found one of the video... If you are interested, u might want to check it out: http://www.spikedhumor.com/Article.aspx?id=360 Another physics experiment performed on water balloon...
  3. N

    Fluids - floating balloon problem

    Hi - I know this must be a basic question, but I'm doing this physics problem and I can't get the exact answer! Here it is and my work along with it - can someone please tell me what I'm missing in my equations? The problem is taken from the James Walker physics book - Chapter 15. Number...
  4. E

    What is the buoyant force exerted on the balloon in air

    Is this a correct interpretation of Archimedes Principle for this application? A balloon is filled with helium (density = .02 kg/m^3) and has a volume of .009 m^3. What is the buoyant force exerted on the balloon in air (density = 1.3 km/m^3)? Fb = (1.3 km/m^3)x (.009 m^3) x (9.80 m)...
  5. S

    How Much Mass Must Be Thrown Out for a Hot Air Balloon to Ascend Properly?

    Hi. There is a hot air balloon with total mass M. There is an upward lift force of 2Mg/3 but the balloon is accelerating downward at a rate of g/3. The passenger needs to make the balloon lighter and starts throwing things of. What fraction of the total weight must he drop overboard so that the...
  6. J

    Calculating the Electric Potential Difference of a Helium Balloon

    I'm learning about charge right now and I have no idea how to start this one.. any help is appreciated. A helium balloon has a charge of q = 5.5 x 10^-8. It rises vertically into the air. d = 600m. from the surface of the Earth to final position A. The electric field that normally exists in...
  7. Omegatron

    Is it possible to create a region of negative density that is less than vacuum?

    So I know you can make a "negative density" region between two plates due to the Casimir effect. I know there's probably not, but is there any theoretically possible way to create a region of such negative density that the total density of the plates and region would be less than vacuum? I had...
  8. S

    Can a Balloon Platform Reach Outer Space?

    I wondered if you could float into space on a balloon. After a quick search on Google I found an answer that left me with more questions. This is what it said:"Could a helium balloon float all the way up into space? A helium filled balloon can float very high up into the atmosphere, however...
  9. F

    Balloon FreeBodyDiagram Question

    This is my gr. 11 physics problem that I can't get. I would be very grateful if someone could help me. :smile: A hot air balloon has a force of gravity of 3000N but has an upward force of 3800N due to the hot air. Person A is on the ground and pulling the balloon with a force of 540N [Left...
  10. C

    Balloon in Sealed Box: Does a Suspended Rock Affect Weight? | Forum Discussion

    Hello all. I'm new to the forum, but I have a feeling I'll be hanging around a lot. I have a question for all of you. If you have a rock suspended by a helium balloon inside a sealed box (the balloon is not touching the top of the box), would the box weigh the same as it would if the rock...
  11. S

    How to Find the Displacement and Angle of a Drifting Balloon?

    Hi! Well this is the problem which is so much confusing because I am not sure what method to follow while solving it. Plz Help me! "A balloon drifts 2.5km north, 3.o Km east and 1.6 Km in elevation from its release point. find the magnitude of the displacement and the angle the...
  12. Bailey

    Charged Metallic Balloon ( understanding a concept)

    the questioon is this: A balloon of radius 34.5 cm is sprayed with a metallic coating so that the surface is conducting. A charge of 1.05 × 10-08 C is placed on the surface. What is the potential on the balloon's surface? how i solved it: -apply the guass law, which gives me the Electrical...
  13. F

    Buoyant forces on hot-air balloon

    hey guys i have an exam tomorrow so i guess a uick reply would help .. my mind is totaly blocked as to how to solve this question. hot air baloon experiences an acceleration of 1.10m/s total mass equals 315kg a) what is the upward (buoyant) force on the system b) the baloonist wishes to...
  14. M

    Spherical balloon with conductive coating

    Hi, I have no idea of how to do the following problem and what formulas I should use. Please help! Thank you. A spherical balloon has a conductive coating and we propose to inflate the balloon to a diameter of 0.1 meters by connecting the surface to a high voltage source. Suppose that the...
  15. A

    Calculate Force/Pressure of Inflating Balloon

    let's say a rubber balloon is not streched (but almost) when its volume is 1L. what force (or pressure) does the balloon exert on a gas inside it when its volume is stretched by xL? I'm measuring this experimentally, but I'd like to know a theoretical way of calculating it.
  16. D

    Helium Balloon Motion in a Moving Car

    how come when a car accelerates w/ a helium balloon, the balloon goes forward?
  17. M

    Hot air balloon buoyancy homework

    A hot air balloon plus cargo has a mass of 291 kg and a volume of 809 m3. The balloon is floating at a constant height of 6.25 m above the ground. The density of the outside air may be assumed to be 1.29 kg/m3. What is the density of the hot air in the balloon? can someone help me with this...
  18. D

    Buoyancy in Free-Falling Elevator: Explained

    so you have a girl in the elevator with a balloon. the elevator begins to descend in free-fall, and the girl releases the balloon in surprise. my book says that the balloon will stay at the same level relative to the girl as before, which brings me to my question: do buoyancy forces not work...
  19. P

    What is the Maximum Range of a Three-Man Water Balloon Launcher?

    hey what does everyone know/estimate one of those three man giant elastic water balloon launchers has as its k constant in hooke's equation F = -kx im trying to figure out a max range for one of those for a given strech length x and a given mass m. i did 1/2 m v^2 = 1/2 k x^2 -> v =...
  20. R

    Helium balloon in zero gravity

    a couple nights ago whilst my presleep thoughts wondered about, i came across a balloon filled with helium. in this thought, i saw the not uncommon sight of it floating up. then i wondered why it went up and not down or some arbitrary direction. i know helium is lighter than our oxygenic...
  21. M

    How High Will the Passenger Be When the Camera Reaches Her?

    can someone help me with this problem? A hot air balloon has just lifted off and is rising at the constant rate of 2.4 m/s. Suddenly, one of the passengers realizes she has left her camera on the ground. A friend picks it up and tosses it straight upward with an initial speed of 11.2 m/s. If...
  22. C

    Hot Air Balloon Free Fall Question

    A hot-air balloonist, rising vertically with a constant velocity of magnitude v=5.00m/s , releases a sandbag at an instant when the balloon is a height h=40.0m above the ground . After it is released, the sandbag is in free fall. 1.) Compute the position of the sandbag at a time 0.165s after...
  23. D

    Calculating Force Needed to Hold Down a Hydrogen-Filled Balloon

    A 30kg balloon is filled with 100m^3 of hydrogen. How much force is needed to hold it down?? I'm not even sure which formula to use with this one. :confused:
  24. T

    What would this curve look like? (hot air balloon problem)

    I'm just wondering what a curve would look like if the x-axis is the temperature inside a hot air balloon and the y-axis is the diameter (in feet) of the balloon. There's a relation in how many pounds a hot air balloon can lift based on this curve and I'm looking to see what a good balance would...
  25. D

    How Much Weight Can a Hot Air Balloon Lift Given Specific Conditions?

    If the volume of a balloon is V=416m^3 and the surrounding air is T=13.8 C. The temperature of the air in the balloon is 213 C. What is the max amount of mass, in addition to the mass of the hot air, the balloon can lift? Density of air is of air outside balloon is 1.22 Kg/m^3. I know I...
  26. V

    Ideal Gas Law and Balloon Volume

    Hey guy, I didnt think i would ever have to deal with gas laws after i got out of AP chem, but it has showed up again in physics. Tell me what to do. Suppose the volume of a balloon decreases so that the temperature of the balloon decreases from 280K to 240K and its pressure drops from...
  27. N

    Calculating Helium Balloon Volume for 500 kg Payload

    I can't seem to figure this simple helium balloon problem out? I would really appreciate some help? Thanks! Estimate the volume of a helium-filled balloon at STP if it is to lift a payload of 500 kg. The density of air is 1.29 kg/cubic meter and helium has a density of .178 kg/cubic meter...
  28. S

    Neutral Balloon: Charge After 19000 e- Removed?

    We have a netural balloon and the question wants to know what it's charge is after 19000 electrons have been removed. Wouldn't the charge remain the same since the object wasn't charged in the first place?
  29. N

    Neutral Balloon: Examining its Charge After Electron Removal

    You have a neutral balloon What is its charge after 13000 electrons have been removed from it? I know you have to use, q=ne but I don't know what to plug in for n
  30. C

    Calculating Volume of Weather Balloon to Lift 4220kg Package

    A 507kg weather balloon is designed to lift a 4220kg package. What volume should the balloon have after being filled with helium at STP in order that the total load can be lifted. I have no idea how to start this problem...
  31. S

    Balloon Physics: How to Move a Balloon on a String Using Simple Materials

    If you have a string strung horizontally between two chairs, how can you get a balloon from one end of the string to the other, and then back again? You can use items such as tape, paperclips, straws, more balloons, ect. I have tried this and have found if you put the string through a straw, and...
  32. V

    Fluid Mechanics of helium-filled balloon

    Hi, I would really appreciate help in solving the following problem. A helium-filled balloon is tied to a 2.00 m long, 0.050 kg uniform string. The balloon is spherical with a radius of 0.400 m. When released, the balloon lifts a length h of string and then remains in...
  33. M

    How much paint is needed for a larger, signal-reflecting weather balloon?

    You launch a group of helium filled spherical weather balloons which have been painted with a thin layer of signal reflecting paint. the first balloon requires 2.75 liters of paint the second balloon you launch is bigger it's diameter is bigger by a factor of 2.75 how much paint will be needed...
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